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Subject:Re: a question about "atmospheric" benefits From:benadam -at- cyberdude -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 8 Nov 2000 11:36:01 -0500 (EST)
I will probably regret posting, but this topic is very relevant to me and very current as well.
My advice is always: look after yourself. No employer will do it for you. Salaried or self-employed, you're still in business for yourself.
"Atmospheric" benefits are, in my opinion, no different than any other benefits. In the end, they are the Emperor's Clothes. You have benefits as long as the employer needs you; once you've outlived your usefulness, the benefits end. You can be a likeable sort, an excellent worker, a person of the highest integrity, but when the employer doesn't need you, what matters is only the money in the bank. The conclusion is that the more money from your employer that you can put in the bank, the better off you are.
After having been burned repeatedly by companies looking to hire "permanent" employees -- understand that "permanent" employees are like a "permanent" wave -- I opted for self employment. As a self-employed consultant, I know that merit will be the criteria that will determine my success. I also know that the benefits I create for myself cannot be taken away from me because of the interests of persons whom I have never met or have met only in passing. It was, to me, the most realistic way of approaching the situation. It's a road that I would advocate for more to take as well; organizations such as the National Association for the Self Employed can be very helpful in making the transition.
- Maury
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